Germany's Lotto- und Totoblock (DLTB) has posted a 4 per cent decline in lottery sales for 2017, leading the association to renew calls for a crackdown against unlicensed gaming operators.

Total sales for Germany's 16 state lotteries amounted to €7.05bn in 2017, down from €7.31bn a year ago. Of this sum €3.5bn was paid out to players as winnings, with a further €2.8bn paid out in taxes and to subsidise social, sporting, cultural and environmental projects.